Blog Archives
We’ve Had Unusual Occupations
Warrior Pose follows a gritty intelligence operative juggling perilous missions, personal demons, and a complicated relationship with his partner, who seems to attract danger at every turn, and is trying to protect those who are important to him. What was your inspiration for the wild journey you take readers on in this novel?
We’re the first to admit we’ve had unusual occupations. Make that sometimes weird.
Early on, Susan trained military personnel how to shoot straight. She wanted to be a writer since age six, but took a detour becoming a commissioned naval officer. As a marine inspector, she boarded ships at sea, jumping onto narrow Jacobs ladders, while ocean waves crashed below.
Together with John, Susan orchestrated sting operations against rogue vessels. She switched to battling natural disasters in New Zealand. And when posted in Abu Dhabi, she decided saving lives included health and safety on billion dollar building projects. In her spare time, she wrenched a Presidential yacht—The USS Potomac—from its watery grave, transforming it to a museum.
John is a hazardous materials Superman. Designated as a law enforcement and naval officer, he had a few special powers. While beginning his career as a biologist, he changed outfits to an environmental emergency specialist. He’s been on every continent including Antarctica. At a moment’s notice, he can snuff out chemical and refinery plant explosions, deal with rocket fuel plant meltdowns and dismantle illegal drug labs.
With Susan, John dished out solutions for combatting international security and anti-terrorism for ports in the Pacific. John switched careers to chase pirates and duel with a con artist extraordinaire, while on a remote South Pacific island. In between, he organised jungle expeditions and deep-sea scuba diving.
So, when it comes to writing, we just dig down into our backgrounds. Likely one or even both of us have some real-life experience that helps make everything we write seem real … because usually it is.
I enjoyed the depth of the main characters, Ric and Elaina. What was your process to bring these characters to life?
Do we have to admit this? We don’t think of our characters as imaginary on a page or as digital words on a computer. To us, they are real. We think, breathe, and act out Ric and Elaina … as well as all the bad guys.
We put ourselves into the shoes of our main characters Ric and Elaina. So they become real people in the sense of their values, beliefs, loves, fears, delights and most importantly their passion.
Ric and Elaina seem to be part of OUR DNA. Though we’ve created detailed biographies and descriptions of their lives documenting their histories and backgrounds, Susan’s crazy relatives and John’s work associates often show up in the stories as well.
We are classic plotters. Read that as: we follow Aristotle and his theories on drama. Thus, in each of the books one of the two main characters will always be working on a flaw. We started this in Book 1 and 2 with Elaina. And Book 3 and 4 with Ric. We have an intricate pathway they follow to keep the reader interested.
But let’s be honest. Our characters come to life because of how they would react to the situations and challenges they are confronted with.
They adapt, adjust and hopefully change when new things happen. They grow as characters, as any human would overcoming their flaw.
And we also act our difficult scenes out to ensure we have the tension right.
Once, we were acting out a scene and Susan was wearing a bullet proof vest and John had two kitchen knives. Imagine answering the front door in our ‘book attire’.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Ans: In one of our jobs, we were asked to clean up a toxic chemical site on the South Island of New Zealand. At first it seemed like just another day’s work.
Until we dug into it … literally. A defunct chemical manufacturing company had produced a colourful array of products for the architectural industry. They didn’t stop there. They also manufactured Agent Orange and bright pink and purple toxic chemicals as part of their production list. A bad day for them was a failed product which meant a quick burial at the plant site. Running out of space, they buried failed products on nearby farms or backfilled it into an estuary.
During the extensive digging, an excavator tipped over contaminated soil from site. A glimmer of rounded white bone appeared. It was a human skull. John and Susan stopped the excavation. The soil was carefully brushed away revealing it wasn’t an ancient artifact. It was an unexpected and more recent burial of human remains.
The police determined the skull was 30 to 40 years old but after a search was finally labelled as an ‘unknown person’.
We were asked to find a suitable burial site. For us, it was important to provide for a proper burial. We obtained permission to create a ‘natural’ memorial as a final resting place for the person that was never identified.
Fast forward 20 years. We are now full-fledged mystery writers with four eBooks and three Audiobooks.
Dead Man’s Pose, Cobra Pose, Tree Pose were all focused on Australia. We shifted gears with Warrior Pose set in New Zealand. Kicking around ideas, we decided to integrate a fictional version of a cleanup and the discovery of a human skull.
We now have developed a backstory and history for a skull found on an imagined cleanup site. Importantly we dedicated the book: To the unknown person we found and the story we never knew.
And it should be noted that worldwide, there are unknown bodies and even skills that are dug up year after year. Some of those bodies and skulls are ancient, but then again some are surprisingly recent. We discovered in our research, it’s definitely not a rare occurrence.
So just be mindful when you are digging into your garden trying to plant those carrots in deep soil!
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Ric and Elaina, as well as the direction of the next book?
Ans: Whooeee. We have so much packed in for Ric and Elaina, they are going to be very busy for the next five years. Fortunately, they have kindly cleared their calendars for us. (Thank goodness!)
We have drafts of 4 plus++ of these new book storylines in various stages of development. Ric and Elaina will be traveling to new locations in the next book titled Half Moon Pose. They will be turning up in the South of France. What starts as a simple research project into the past rapidly explodes into a desperate search from Avignon to Nice to Paris.
Complications do arise with some old enemies returning and new friends found.
Writing a series means you are always thinking 3 – 5 books ahead even though you are busy writing the current one. And of course you just happen to drop a clue or two along the way in all the storylines. Given our careers forward thinking is what we do best.
Author Links: Website | SoundCloud | GoodReads | Instagram | YouTube | Linkedin | BlueSky | Mastodon
His life at a crossroads, Ric Peters is torn between his perilous job and dreams of a future with Elaina. But their trip to New Zealand throws them into chaos as they are swept up in a whirlwind of danger and dark family secrets.
As Ric grapples with accusations of murder back in Indonesia, the discovery of a mysterious skull at a toxic waste site near his family’s home deepens the mystery. Bodies appear, old wounds reopen, and Ric’s strained relationship with his father is tested by shadows of the past. An old friend’s disappearance and deadly secrets unearthed at a chemical plant threaten to expose more than just the environmental sins of the region.
When a woman’s body is found in the local hills, her face a mask of terror, the danger becomes deadly personal. With Ric’s parents drawn into the fray and Elaina targeted by shadowy foes, the stakes soar. Meanwhile, Ric’s friends back in Indonesia desperately need his help to evade police and a potential firing squad, relying on him from thousands of miles away.
From high-speed chases across mountainous terrain to close encounters with New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes and quirky characters, Warrior Pose is a relentless ride through betrayal, love, and survival. Join Ric and Elaina as they navigate a labyrinth of intrigue and danger in this explosive installment of the Yoga Mat Mysteries.
Dive into another thrilling chapter of the Yoga Mat Mysteries, where secrets run as deep as the tides and trust is as fleeting as the shifting sands.
Enigma Jewels
Enigma Jewels takes readers on a breakneck chase across the Caribbean, following Julian Lafluer, the last member of a notorious criminal family, as he struggles to escape justice. After his human trafficking and drug operations are dismantled, Julian turns to laundering money and harvesting precious gems from sunken ships. The Enigma Heirs, part of the R-Group and CATS teams, are hot on his trail. From crypto deals to cartel connections, the heroes face deadly traps, twisting betrayals, and brutal choices as they work to bring down a man who always seems one step ahead. It’s a techno-thriller packed with action, danger, and some clever cyber-sleuthing, all unfolding against a backdrop of stunning island settings and gritty underworld dealings.
I really liked the fast pacing and sharp dialogue. The writing felt fresh and unpretentious. It didn’t get bogged down in technical mumbo-jumbo, even though tech plays a big part in the story. Instead, the authors kept things moving with quick scene cuts and tension that never let up for long. There were points when the banter between characters made me smile, even during life-or-death moments, which made me root for them even harder. I found myself genuinely worried for Gracie, JJ, Marian, and Brayson. These aren’t perfect action heroes. They’re messy, stubborn, smart people who make mistakes but don’t quit. That made me care about what happened to them, which is a rare feeling when you’ve read a lot of thrillers.
The story dives deep into areas like cryptocurrency tracking and harbor patrol operations, adding a rich layer of technical detail that some readers may appreciate for its authenticity. Julian’s character stays intentionally shadowy, emphasizing his role as an unpredictable and elusive threat. This approach keeps the suspense high, though it may leave some readers wanting a closer look at his personal motivations. Overall, the complexity of the plot and the constant shifts in momentum create an exciting and engaging experience.
Enigma Jewels is a thrilling ride that’s perfect for anyone who loves fast-paced, clever stories about cybercrime, loyalty, and survival. If you’re a fan of series like Mission: Impossible or NCIS, or if you enjoy books that mix technology with real-world danger, you’ll probably eat this one up. I had a blast reading it and would happily dive back into the world of the Enigma Heirs anytime. It’s gritty, smart, and just the right kind of wild.
Pages: 272 | ASIN: B0F1KS39PD
Psychosis Diagnosis
Psychosis Diagnosis by Nikki Minty is a dark, raw, and deeply emotional story set against the gritty backdrop of Coraki, Australia. The book follows Monroe, a teenager born into crushing poverty, drug abuse, and violence, as he struggles to escape his toxic home life. Along the way, he meets Indi, a girl trapped in an oppressive religious cult, and the two bond over their shared trauma. Interwoven through Monroe’s story is the unsettling past of Enzo, a boy from 1920s New Orleans who dabbles in dangerous dark magic and crosses paths with sinister figures. The novel flips back and forth between the two timelines, threading together themes of survival, inherited darkness, and the desperate hope for freedom.
From the very first scene, when Monroe’s mother is scrabbling through carpet fibers for her drug stash, I felt like I was dropped into his suffocating world. The details are so vivid, like the curdled milk on the windowsill, the wild tangle of his mother’s hair, it’s impossible not to feel Monroe’s desperation. Nikki Minty doesn’t sugarcoat anything. She shows every broken window, every slammed fist, and every moment Monroe wishes he could just disappear. There’s a rawness to the language, a kind of grit that doesn’t let you look away. Some parts, like Monroe’s inner battle after Freddy Krueger clocks him with a beer bottle, physically made me tense up.
What surprised me most, though, was how much heart there is beneath all the darkness. The relationship between Monroe and Indi could have felt cliche, but instead, it’s tender and cautious. Indi, with her ice-blue eyes and haunting scars, is fighting her own quiet war, and the scenes where they find shelter under a leaky patio roof or hide out in Monroe’s dingy room are oddly beautiful. I loved that Monroe wasn’t written like some savior figure swooping in. He’s messed up. He’s scared. Sometimes he’s selfish. And that’s exactly what made his decision to help Indi feel heroic. You can feel how heavy that choice is every step of the way.
The flashbacks to Enzo’s life in New Orleans elevated the novel to a deeper and more compelling level. They gave the story this eerie, almost gothic undertone that I didn’t see coming. Enzo’s early scenes with Jerimiah, where they accidentally or maybe not so accidentally kill a young girl during a dark magic ritual, were chilling. It wasn’t just the supernatural stuff that spooked me. It was how easily innocence turned into something monstrous. Enzo’s gradual fall into darkness mirrors Monroe’s struggle in a way that left me genuinely unsettled. The shifts between Monroe and Enzo’s timelines kept the story moving at a brisk pace, though at times I found myself wishing for a few more pages to fully savor each perspective before transitioning.
By the end, I was a wreck, in the best way. Minty builds the tension so well that by the final chapters, when everything’s crashing down, you’re white-knuckling the book, praying these characters you’ve grown to love somehow claw their way out.
I highly recommend Psychosis Diagnosis to readers who appreciate dark, intense, and character-driven narratives. Those who admired works like The Outsiders or Sharp Objects are likely to find this novel equally compelling. However, readers should be prepared for an experience that challenges rather than comforts; this story is not designed to offer easy resolutions, but rather to evoke deep and lasting emotions.
Pages: 372 | ASIN : B0DYZTR4ZR
Switch
Lisa Towles’ Switch is a breakneck techno-thriller that dives headfirst into the world of private investigations, buried family secrets, and high-stakes covert operations. At the center is Marissa Ellwyn—a sharp, seasoned former CIA operative turned private investigator—who’s recovering from a hit-and-run attack that lands her in the middle of an investigation laced with mystery, betrayal, and emotional landmines. As she navigates through the murky entanglements of a multi-million-dollar heist, her missing mother, a mysterious John Doe, and a midnight visit from a coroner, the layers of plot unravel in a satisfying tangle of danger and introspection.
I found the writing electrifying and, at times, deeply poignant. Towles excels at keeping the tension high without sacrificing emotional depth. Her dialogue crackles. It’s smart, biting, and authentic, and the first-person narrative gives us raw access to Marissa’s inner world. The pacing is intense. Scenes leap from intimate reflections to explosive action, and it works because Marissa is such a magnetic narrator. That said, the rapid switches in location and the density of subplots made me double back more than once. But honestly, I didn’t mind. The richness of detail, particularly in how Marissa analyzes people and situations, kept me anchored even when the plot went labyrinthine.
What I enjoyed most was the emotional honesty behind all the spy games and shootouts. Marissa’s relationship with her elusive and emotionally detached father resonated with me because it felt real and messy. The themes of abandonment, trust, and resilience ground the story in something human. And the dog, Trevor, was a total scene-stealer. I would’ve liked a touch more clarity around some of the secondary characters, who sometimes blurred together in the thick of the action. Still, this wasn’t a dealbreaker. I appreciated how the book never spoon-fed answers; it trusted me to keep up, and that felt refreshing.
Switch is for readers who crave a smart and emotionally charged thriller with an awesome female lead and just enough espionage spice to keep things edgy. If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni, or early Patricia Cornwell, you’ll devour this. It’s not a beach read—it’s a bunker-down, turn-off-your-phone, and hang-on-tight read. And I loved it.
Pages: 372
Making My Characters Real
Buried Bones follows a 75-year-old retired prosecutor who stumbles into a murder case in a small Utah town, forcing her to face the ghosts of her past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I started putting the story together, I had two strong desires. I wanted a woman investigator, and I wanted to emphasize the importance of due process and the rule of law.
I wanted a woman investigator who could reflected on the reality of working on a very difficult and emotionally draining investigation. She would naturally gravitate toward those nuances and tiny details that women seem to find. I also wanted to write about people who are wrongly accused, because it does happen and due process is incredibly important.
I retired to Utah a couple of years before I started writing in order to be near family. It’s a great place with a wholesome and practical approach to most issues, and great scenery, including pioneer cabins. I invented a small town in the mountains with a very traditional and typical approach that would challenge Maggie’s more eclectic lifestyle and create the conflict that is always found in a criminal investigation.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I enjoyed creating Maggie Anderson the most! She became a lot like many of the strong career women I knew and admired who came of age during the wave of feminism in the 1970s -1990s. I also knew that many of “us” had secret pains and self- doubts, and I wanted her to be as real as possible. It was gratifying to watch her move from her self-doubt to a deep understanding of the motives behind the crime and control over the investigation. I’m planning a series where Maggie’s life will continue to unfold in what may be surprising ways.
Logan Harris, the DA, didn’t know what to do with a case that implicated the most prominent family in a small town and his uncertainty made him challenging. He didn’t want to arrest the wrong person, meaning a member of this very extensive family. He was near retirement and ready to hang up his gloves and call it a cold case, but Maggie kept digging up “the wrong” evidence. Logan stayed on the right side of the law, but barely.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
I’ve lived long enough to be able to count multiple life-changing moments in the same way that Maggie’s life unfolded in unexpected ways. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but some of these major events, and major decisions, changed the course of my life. Sometimes I’ve wished I could call it a first draft, and do some editing, but life doesn’t work the same as a manuscript. As Maggie’s creator, I think I’ll give her more of these events as the series unfolds.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Buried Bones is the first in a series I’m planning which will take Maggie Anderson and her friends into many situations. She will run into legal quagmires that overwhelm ordinary people. In the first book, we had someone who was wrongly accused. In the second book, an adolescent boy kills someone who is about to rape a child. Maggie maneuvers through an archaic legal system that has a hard time addressing children who have legitimate and sensitive issues. It’s a challenge which I hope to have ready for a publisher within a year.
Author Links: Facebook
While vacationing in the mountains east of Ogden, Utah, retired prosecutor Maggie Anderson learns about the discovery of Audrey Stillman’s body buried near the home she once shared with her former husband, Ben. Maggie witnesses Ben threatened by a gang of local cowboys and the town quickly blames him.
Haunted by her past failure to save another innocent man, Maggie offers Ben help and begins investigating.
As she delves into the case, Maggie uncovers ties between Audrey’s murder and the influential Stevenson family, who control much of the town’s political and economic life. It’s discovered Audrey was pregnant when she died, and Maggie suspects the father may be the killer. But the deeper Maggie digs, the more secrets she uncovers-secrets that certain powerful people will go to great lengths to protect.
With help from the district attorney and her growing connection to her friend Robert, Maggie secretly collects DNA samples and interviews witnesses. As the investigation leads closer to the truth, Maggie believes the key to the murder lies within the Stevenson family itself.
Was the responsible person much closer to the victim than she realizes? If so, what lengths will be taken to keep the truth buried? Will anyone else die?
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and older women, Buried Bones promises a 75-year-old protagonist with compassion, a tender heart, and a thirst for justice, even when she believes she has lost her competence.
Zero Knowledge
Zero Knowledge is a gripping techno-thriller that blends the raw emotion of a terminal illness with a cryptic, high-stakes mystery rooted in the world of cryptocurrency. The story begins with a tragedy—Mina, diagnosed with terminal cancer, decides to end her life on her birthday, leaving her husband Duan devastated. But just when you think you’re reading a love story about grief and letting go, the book shifts gears. Luc, Mina’s friend’s husband and a key figure in the crypto world, dies mysteriously. What unfolds is a complex tale involving murder, encrypted clues, financial betrayal, and a race to uncover a hidden truth tied to Bitcoin’s mysterious origins.
From the first page, Pascolo’s writing grabbed me. He opens with a personal gut-punch and gradually builds a suspenseful narrative that snowballs into a larger, more intricate conspiracy. The emotional weight of Mina’s euthanasia is handled with striking intimacy. I felt the grief. I felt the love. But it’s not just sadness; it’s how Pascolo turns the knife slowly and then tosses the reader into the frigid waters of a cyber-thriller. His prose is crisp. His dialogue feels real, sometimes painfully so. There’s no padding here—just raw feeling and tight plotting. And the alternating storylines work beautifully, weaving personal pain and techno-intrigue together in a way that never feels forced.
There were moments when the tone veered just a bit too dramatic for me, like soap opera meets crypto noir. Still, I couldn’t put the book down. The mystery surrounding Luc’s death, the eerie envelope clues, and the idea that someone might be using virgin Bitcoins from the earliest mining days, maybe even Satoshi Nakamoto’s stash, kept me flipping pages late into the night. Pascolo has a knack for balancing tension with curiosity. It’s part grief memoir, part whodunit, part cyberpunk, and somehow, it all clicks.
I’d recommend Zero Knowledge to anyone who loves a thriller with heart. If you’re into tech, crypto, or just enjoy a twisty, emotional ride with a mystery at its core, this is your kind of book. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never heard of blockchain or think Bitcoin is wizard money, the human drama pulls you in, and the cryptographic suspense keeps you there.
Pages: 335 | ASIN : B0F4PPGMZV
Murder Italian Style
If you’ve ever wished your cozy mysteries came with a side of handmade shoes and a sprinkle of Italian charm, Murder Italian Style, by Diane Vallere, might be your next binge. In this 16th installment of the Killer Fashion Mystery series, amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd trades her Pennsylvania digs for a dreamy villa in Monza, Italy, a trip that was supposed to be a holiday break but, of course, turns into a classic whodunnit. Between artisanal pizza, buried family drama, and a decades-old murder conviction that doesn’t quite sit right, Samantha finds herself pulled into a mystery that’s as tangled as a pile of vintage silk scarves.
Right out of the gate, what I loved most was Samantha’s voice: sharp, warm, and packed with dry humor. Her banter with her husband Nick in the opening chapter had me actually laughing out loud. “What’s potato in Italian?” “Po-tah-to.” Vallere writes like she’s sitting across from you at brunch with bottomless mimosas, light on her feet but with a real eye for detail. There’s a moment when Samantha describes the villa with such affection and awe that I could feel the chevron wood floors under my toes. That scene also sets the tone for the book’s secret weapon: atmosphere. Italy isn’t just a setting, it’s part of the mood board for the whole story.
The premise is compelling: a former lover imprisoned for murder, a cache of unsent letters, and a parole hearing fast approaching. The stakes extend far beyond legal implications; they’re deeply emotional. A particularly memorable moment unfolds during a dinner beneath the stars when Monica and Isabella appeal to Samantha for help in proving Pasquale’s innocence. The vulnerability in this exchange is palpable and deeply affecting. What stands out even more, though, is Samantha’s response. She doesn’t overreact or grandstand; she listens, reflects, and ultimately agrees to help. Not out of obligation or heroism, but because she genuinely cares. It’s this quiet mix of empathy and discernment that keeps the story anchored, even as the mystery grows more complex.
While the pacing in the middle section slows somewhat, this deliberate tempo allows for a richer immersion in the setting and character dynamics. Scenes featuring Samantha’s keen eye for footwear, reminiscent of a detective inspecting clues, are particularly engaging. Vallere’s expertise in fashion shines through, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. A standout example is the visit to the shoe store near the prison, a moment that subtly intertwines setting, character insight, and thematic resonance. It’s a thoughtful approach that enhances the story’s texture without overwhelming it.
Murder Italian Style was a breezy, stylish, and unexpectedly emotional ride. If you’re into cozy mysteries with a quirky heroine, a pinch of fashion, and a setting you’ll want to move into immediately, you’ll be in good hands. Fans of Nancy Drew for grown-ups, Hallmark mysteries, or anyone who gets misty over old love stories should absolutely pick this up. Just be warned: you’ll crave pizza, espresso, and maybe a pair of Italian loafers by the last page.
Pages: 234 | ASIN : B0DTJGZX4G
LITERARY TITAN 